Method for treatment of arthrosis deformans with elastase

Abstract

A method is disclosed for treating a subject suffering from arthrosis deformans which comprises administering to said subject a therapeutically effective amount of a composition comprising elastase and a pharmacologically acceptable carrier. Particularly excellent results were obtained using this method for the treatment of gonarthrosis deformans.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 
     
       1. A method for treating a subject suffering from arthrosis deformans which comprises administering to said subject a therapeutically effective amount of a composition comprising elastase and a pharmacologically acceptable carrier. 
     
     
       2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said subject is a human being. 
     
     
       3. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein said subject is suffering from gonarthrosis deformans. 
     
     
       4. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein said subject is suffering from coxarthrosis deformans. 
     
     
       5. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said elastase is porcine elastase. 
     
     
       6. A method as claimed in claim 5, wherein said porcine elastase has a molecular weight of 25,900, an isoelectric point of pH 9.5±0.5, and a sedimentation coefficient S 20 ,w of 2.6. 
     
     
       7. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein said composition is administered orally. 
     
     
       8. A method according to claim 7, wherein said composition is administered to said human subject at a dosage in the range of from 2,000 to 20,000 EL. U day. 
     
     
       9. A method according to claim 8, wherein said composition is administered to said human subject over a period in the range of from 4 to 20 weeks. 
     
     
       10. A method according to claim 9, wherein said composition consists essentially of elastase, lactose, starch, cellulose and a binder, and is formulated into a solid preparation selected from the group consisting of granules, tablets and capsules.